Mt. Iliamna
This season found Theresa and I back in Alaska at the Snug Harbor Cannery to support the AVO team while they studied Mt. Iliamna.
Mt. Iliamna volcano is a broad, deeply dissected and highly altered, roughly cone-shaped mountain at the north end of a 5-km-long ridge. Most of the volcano is covered by perennial snow and ice. Numerous glaciers radiate from the summit area and large avalanche deposits occur on the flanks of the volcano, particularly down the Umbrella Glacier on the southwest side of Mt. Iliamna.
According to the team, Mt. Iliamna is one of the least active in Alaska and as such one of the least studied. But that was all to change during the two weeks we were all on the island. Unusually warm and dry weather resulted in the team being able to fly out in the field every single day. Not once did they have to scrub flights due to weather.
Costa Rica
We've returned from Costa Rica and what a trip it turned out to be! Now, comes the time consuming process of culling the photographs and footage. Not to mention going through the multiple pages of field notes!
I'll be posting both detailed reports on our excursion out into the field as well as some 'Featured Animal' articles highlighting some of unique animals we encountered.
I'll also be posting some behind-the-scene clips and such over on our Twitter account.
Alaska Volcano Observatory
The AVO is staffed by 22 full-time scientists, technicians, and administrators. However, they weren’t the only ones that came out during the two-week study. There were volcanologists from Colorado and southern California that also came out for a portion of that time.
The AVO is responsible for assessing the full range of potential hazards at specific volcanic centers. This effort involves studying a volcano to determine the style and frequency of past eruptions and the potential impacts of future activity. Hazards assessments include descriptions of the history of a given volcano, explanations of likely eruption scenarios, and determination of probable impact zones for the range of expected hazards.
Each person or small team were there to study a different aspect of the Mt. Iliamna volcano. One of the most interesting, and just plain geeky, was measuring differences in the gravitational pull around the volcano to find magma dooms.
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The forecast for this weekend was questionable but it turned out, as so often the case, to be a beautiful day. Enjoying the sun at Pacific Beach. ⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #cascadiaexplored #oregonexplored #theoutbound #pnwexplored #getoutside #naturelovers #follow4followback #pnwlife #pacificnorthwest #likeforlikes #photographylife #washingtonstate #pnw #like4likes #followforfollowback #photooftheday #follow #pnwcollective #picsart #naturephotography #thatpnwlife #roamtheplanet #photography #nature #picsarttutorial #upperleftusa #optoutside #pnwadventures #pnwwonderland #liked
Land of enchantment; feels like there should be unicorns around every corner. Skate Creek in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest..⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #pnwonderland #pnw #thenwadventure #upperleftusa #pnwdiscovered #cascadiaexplored #pnwparadise #optoutside #wildernessculture #wanderwashington #pacificnorthwest #pnwlife #nature #keepitwild #pnwphotographer #lifeofadventure #exploretocreate #beautifuldestinations #hikingadventures #wanderlust #thatpnwlife #explorewashington #roamtheplanet #thegreatpnw #photooftheday #washingtonexplored @washingtondiscovered @nextstop24 #nextstop24traveler
Here's another shot of Skate Creek in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The creek was running high between the spring melt and thunderstorms.
An enchanted creek bed along NF-52. This stretch of road bisects the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Skate Creek runs alongside much of it.⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #cascadiaexplored #oregonexplored #theoutbound #pnwexplored #getoutside #naturelovers #follow4followback #pnwlife #pacificnorthwest #likeforlikes #photographylife #washingtonstate #pnw #like4likes #followforfollowback #photooftheday #follow #pnwcollective #picsart #naturephotography #thatpnwlife #roamtheplanet #photography #nature #picsarttutorial #upperleftusa #optoutside #pnwadventures #pnwwonderland #liked
Goat Creek runs beside our campsite located just outside Mt. Rainier National Park. Feels good to be outdoors again.⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #cascadiaexplored #oregonexplored #theoutbound #pnwexplored #getoutside #naturelovers #follow4followback #pnwlife #pacificnorthwest #likeforlikes #photographylife #washingtonstate #pnw #like4likes #followforfollowback #photooftheday #follow #pnwcollective #picsart #naturephotography #thatpnwlife #roamtheplanet #photography #nature #picsarttutorial #upperleftusa #optoutside #pnwadventures #pnwwonderland #liked
Looking out at Mt. Rainier from the trail leading to the High Tower Lookout. Hoping to get back out there this weekend if all goes well. Be safe everyone.⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #cascadiaexplored #oregonexplored #theoutbound #pnwexplored #getoutside #naturelovers #follow4followback #pnwlife #pacificnorthwest #likeforlikes #photographylife #washingtonstate #pnw #like4likes #followforfollowback #photooftheday #follow #pnwcollective #picsart #naturephotography #thatpnwlife #roamtheplanet #photography #nature #picsarttutorial #upperleftusa #optoutside #pnwadventures #pnwwonderland #liked
Had to go to the photo abutment for this one but it’s a sunset after a storm on the Washington coast featuring the North Head Lighthouse. .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #seascape_lovers #pnwlife #ig_worldbeaches #sunset_greatshots #lighthouses_around_the_world #pnwcollective #ig #lighthouses #unlimitedsunset #pnwwonderland #sky_brillance #lighthouse #lighthouse_world #pnw #sealandscape #raw #pnwonderland #pnwlove #thatoregonlife #pacificnorthwest #oregonlife #explore #oregonisbeautiful #oregonexplored #pocket_beaches #lighthousesofinstagram #nautical_images #seascapephotography #pnwisbest #wastateparks
Cattails at Frenchmen’s Cove on Hood Canal with the Olympic Mountain Range in the background.⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #cascadiaexplored #oregonexplored #theoutbound #pnwexplored #getoutside #naturelovers #follow4followback #pnwlife #pacificnorthwest #likeforlikes #photographylife #washingtonstate #pnw #like4likes #followforfollowback #photooftheday #follow #pnwcollective #picsart #naturephotography #thatpnwlife #roamtheplanet #photography #nature #picsarttutorial #upperleftusa #optoutside #pnwadventures #pnwwonderland #liked
Decided to test the new Mavic Air 2 from my backyard; still waiting for campsites to open here in the Pacific Northwest. Rather pleased with the quality of the new sensor. #dji #mavicair2
It was 40 years ago today that Mt. St. Helens erupted. But life is rebounding to the volcano and she's rebuilding herself.⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #herpnwlife #pacificnw #pnwlife #anniversary #40yearsago #cascadiaexplored #40thanniversary #pnw #landscape #washingtonexplored #volcano #mountrainier #volcanoeruption #mountsthelens #optoutside #upperleftcoast #history #pnwhiking #sky #upperleftusa #columbiarivergorge #mthood #oregonisbeautiful #pnwadventures #pnwonderland #washington #washingtonstate #eruption #nature #pdx
Looking forward to getting back into the Olympics soon. Hopefully, we can do so responsibly in the very near future.⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #landscape #oregonisbeautiful #pnwlife #naturalwonder #landscapephotography #explorewashington #pacificnw #waterfallsfordays #mountains #naturalwonders #rockformation #pnwparadise #waterfalls #scenicview #waterfall #pnwwonderland #cascadiaexplored #waterfallhike #nature #pnwroamers #naturephotography #wanderlust #rockformations #pacificnorthwest #waterfallphotography #waterfallchasing #photography #water #oregonlife #pnwcollective
One of last winters sunsets just after a storm swept the beach. ⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #naturephotography #pnwadventures #ig_stormclouds #columbiariver #photography #oregonexplored #love #severeweather #sunset #pnwwonderland #stormphotography #blackclouds #clouds #pnwcollective #thunderstorm #spokane #sky #thunder #upperleftusa #stormchasers #cloudy #pnwlife #photooftheday #rain #bnw #stormchaser #nature #stormclouds #oregoncoast #oregonlife
With the relaxing of our 'Stay-at-home' order, we were able to get out and enjoy a bit of the outdoors. Didn't mind the rain one bit. Here's the Nisqually River near the entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park.⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #landscape #oregonisbeautiful #pnwlife #naturalwonder #landscapephotography #explorewashington #pacificnw #waterfallsfordays #mountains #naturalwonders #rockformation #pnwparadise #waterfalls #scenicview #waterfall #pnwwonderland #cascadiaexplored #waterfallhike #nature #pnwroamers #naturephotography #wanderlust #rockformations #pacificnorthwest #waterfallphotography #waterfallchasing #photography #water #oregonlife #pnwcollective
We found a way to safely camp this weekend without violating our stay at home order or endangering anyone else. Nice to have breakfast outdoors again.⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #loveyourself #positivity #quotes #inspiration #positiveenergy #photooftheday #positivequotes #love #happy #happiness #motivation #fitness #postivity #positivethoughts #positive #success #positiveaffirmations #positivevibesonly #quoteoftheday #positivevibes #inspirationalquotes #positvity #mindset #positiveoutlook #life #selfcare #lifequotes #positiveaffirmation #positivequote #selflove
Sunrise over Port Angeles. I have to keep reminding myself that this crisis will pass. ⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #sunriseporn #clouds #sky #upperleftusa #oregoncoast #pacificnorthwest #pnwlife #photooftheday #sunset #skyscape #beautiful #love #sunup #sunrise #pnwadventures #instasunrise #pnw #nature #photography #cloudporn #sunsetlover #pnwisbest #oregonexplored #skylovers #orangesky #oregonlife #spokanedoesntsuck #centraloregon #sunrise_and_sunsets #travel
We were so lucky to have the La Fortuna waterfall to ourselves for close to an hour this morning. It really doesn't get better than this.⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #españa #travel #quedateencasa #costarica🇨🇷 #alajuela #ecuador #argentina #costaricacool #guanacaste #colombia #uruguay #mexico #panama #peru #chile #costaricatravel #heredia #cuarentena #costarica #bolivia🇧🇴 #puravida #paraguay #visitcostarica #bolivia #literatura #nature #venezuela #historias #italia #puertorico
Snug Harbor Outpost
The usual suspects were all present at the Cannery this year and it’s always good to come ‘home’ and rekindle relationships. We swapped stories about engagements, passings, man overboard and the usual, “You won’t believe this…” stories.
climate change
The cannery looked much the same despite this being her centennial year. The biggest issue we had to contend with this year was that the waterfall we rely on for our freshwater was just about running dry.
The same weather that allowed the AVO to conduct such a rapid assessment of Mt. Iliamna was also threatening to dry our water source.
This forced us to rig a storage system and pump to make sure we had the necessary water for daily use. I’ve only been going to the island for about 10 years, but those who have been coming out for decades mentioned that this was the first time they had seen the waterfall just about dried out.
